Caviar on top of all wish lists

Patrick Bartley

RUMOURS abounded at Flemington on Saturday that Black Caviar was having her final start, but after smashing the track record in the race named in her honour it seems the world's fastest mare is still very much ready to better her already remarkable record.

Trainer Peter Moody and Black Caviar's connections said several options were now on the table after the rising seven-year-old registered her 23rd consecutive victory.

''Where to now?'' Moody said. ''Well, we are going to have a few drinks tonight.

''It's been a big day for me, Black Caviar's come back better than ever and I've trifectaed the first running of the Black Caviar Lightning.

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''We will relax and talk tonight and plan where we will go next. The relief to see her come back today is enormous. I'm getting a bit emotional. In fact, I'm glad I'm sweating, or you might see a tear.''

Senior race club executives in Melbourne, across Australia and even in England will now be lobbying for the champion mare to start at their track.

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But Moody and the connections are keen to see how Black Caviar emerges from her third Lightning Stakes success before they pinpoint a particular race.

''We've come a long way from the day after she ran at Ascot and I thought it was all over. But for her to come out after eight months and break a track record is just amazing,'' Moody said.

''You must thank the owners; they have been fabulous and they've shared Black Caviar with Australia.''

Races such as the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley late in March or a trip to Sydney, Brisbane or even Adelaide are all options, according to the Moody camp.

''We were on a hiding to nothing by bringing her back; the job was done and we thought it was over.

''But to come back, do that and run a record, I'm lost for words. I think the second horse [Moment Of Change] is outstanding and I said to the owners before the race that I thought the horse is going super and he is the next one for the camp.''

And Luke Nolen, referring to his controversial ride on Black Caviar at Royal Ascot last year, said: ''I didn't drop my hands on her today.''

When the jockey was asked if he felt that Black Caviar was running a track record, he said: ''Because you're out there on your own, and it is a big track when the rail is back to the true and the wind is going about, you don't get a real appreciation of how quick you are going.''

In front of a crowd of 27,000, Black Caviar was a bad result for bookmakers who gambled on the rising seven-year-old by betting as much as $1.09. An avalanche of late money saw that price tumble into $1.01.